Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Cocina Elena

    4.3 (50 reviews)
    InexpensiveFilipino
    Closed 10:30 am - 4:00 pm

    Cocina Elena Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Cocina Elena

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Kutsinta
    Isaac K.

    I went there yesterday for the first time during my lunch, and the food was delicious! The staff was very friendly, like your aunty and uncle you would get food from. The food tastes like home. I had pinak bet, kare kare, and longanisa. All was cooked good. Rice perfect. The restaurant is located in the shopping center/food court area. Lots of seats and tables to sit at. Typical Asian mart vibe. Cash or Zelle only so make sure you're prepared before then. On the way out I bought puto and kutsinta for my wife and she enjoyed it. I am coming back!

    3 items for $11. Pretty tasty
    Lily F.

    It's cash only, so you know it's legit. I'm a fan of variety so the rice plus three sides was an obvious move for me. And even though I'm no expert in Filipino cuisine, I listened and watched everyone else order in front of me to see what was popular and ended up ordering the bitter melon, lechon, and the adobo. Everything tasted very homemade and reminded me of my former roommate's mother who would use to make us yummy Filipino food. You could tell they had a loyal following because the owner knew pretty much everyone that was in line. And I love the woman who was working because she was nice and took her time with each customer.

    With the Cocina Elena Crew (FamBam)! Thank you for you Hospitality.
    Carding E.

    Looking for Good Filipino Food? Look no further. This spot is the spot for good home cooked filipino food. Customer service is top notch and friendly. I highly recommend this restaurant. #cashonly #familyowned #rapsa #tasty #yummy

    puto cheese

    i had been looking for a place that sells puto and this one is moist and fluffy...10/10 would get it again

    Inside the sausage
    Laura P.

    Delicious handmade Philipino cuisine awaits you here at Covina Elena, on the short side of the L-shaped corridor (by the Hong Kong Supermarket) of Arlington's Asia Times Square Food Court. We came over to Arlington today not just to pick up a kid from college but also to try this place that we saw Mike Chen review - turns out he was here less than 2 weeks ago, and business has already picked up!! Yeah baby! We ordered two two-entree rice plates to try the most things, and got an order of small sausages on the side. While we are not completely sure of names, we are certain that every bite was DELICIOUS! I had a delicious mild peanutty curry of beef tripe that I would 100% get again. The soft extra-mild bible tripe was melt-in-your mouth tender, mixed with tender Chinese eggplant and crunchy Chinese long beans. This is tripe for everyone - ethereal and comforting. We also got the Pork Adobo, chunks of skin-on pork simmered for hours until tender in a delicious adobo sauce. The pork fat under the shin becomes translucent, and the whole chunk of meat is tender and meltingly smooth. A dish Laino (pork with greens in coconut milk) was spiked with raw Serrano Chile for just a pinch of heat in an otherwise creamy melange of big flavors. Our 4th dish was Pork Picadillo, a fragrant stew of mild spices (turmeric and garlic) and vegetables. This stew was delicious and I will be trying to find a recipe to cook at home. Each dish had a different flavor profile, each was perfectly balanced, and each was absolutely delicious. Pork sausages are an interesting red color with big pork flavor - so succulent! 5 amazing exotic flavor experience stars!

    Jen A.

    Went shopping at Asia Times Square during the week and stopped at Cocina Elena for a quick bite to satisfy my Filipino food craving. Cocina Elena has a good booth in the popular shopping area. There are tables located in the food court area. It can be challenging to find seating on the weekends but there was ample seating on the Thursday I went. They have cafeteria style items like pancit and adobo but then I noticed the sign for sisig and couldn't resist ordering it. It takes 10 minutes to prepare and they give you a pager to come back up to the counter when it's ready. It came out on a small sizzling plate and smelled great. It had the perfect balance of flavors and I would definitely order again.

    Tocilog
    Myliyah T.

    If youre craving and wanting a taste of home, Cocina Elena provides it for you. Everything was decently priced well and me and my friends didnt have to wait long! Its a small little food place inside the plaza and the only Filipino place I could find in Arlington. Was satisfied with my food!

    The bilo-bilo was that good
    Trace R.

    The service was fast and friendly - and the food was delicious. They have quite the variety of dishes available - I bought kare-kare, dinuguan, papaitan, longganisa, bilo-bilo, biko and kutsinta - I was too excited to find a Filipino food place in DFW. It is priced right and the servings are generous. They only take CASH and ZELLE. They are situated inside the HongKong Market food plaza. I'll be back next weekend for sure!

    Bbq chicken
    Josselyn A.

    First time here got BBQ chicken it was delicious drink is separate, staff was all super friendly. Cash only but you have the option of zelle.

    the inside of a fast food restaurant
    John S.

    Great place to satisfy your Filipino food cravings. Buffet style "Turo Turo" or Point Point located within Hong Kong Plaza at the food courts. Flavors will remind you of home cooking just like how mom used to make it! Having a three choice combo will surely hit the spot!!! I'd like a little more variety but that's more of a convenience and luxury I've been used to back in California. Give it a try and you won't regret it!

    2 item combo
    Mark M.

    Was craving some Filipino food so I decided to check this place out. Before you come here, keep in mind this place is cash only so come prepared. This place is situated in an Asian food court next to a supermarket in a plaza called Asia Times Square. I ordered the 2 item combo for about $8 and then from that point on, it was just a matter of picking the 2 dishes from about 8 or more dishes on steam table to accompany the large plate of white rice. I ordered the beef soup and the chicken kaldereta dish and both were great. Would definitely recommend for someone looking to try some good Filipino fare.

    (Half eaten) chicken pancit and lumpia!
    Gloria P.

    This is by far my favorite place for Filipino food! The chicken pancit and lumpia are my go to every time however, all the food there is amazing and fresh! It's an absolute must have!

    Grilled Squid

    See all

    1 month ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Angel H.
    4
    76
    133

    16 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nes A.
    0
    108
    198

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lily F.
    815
    1599
    2984

    4 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of John S.
    47
    143
    531

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Licoy R.

    Licoy R.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jose S.
    1
    11
    44

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rey L.
    0
    14
    0

    4 years ago

    Very delicious Filipino foods would recommend to friends.Shout out to Ino and family.Very friendly and courteous.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lucky D.
    587
    34
    53

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Five O.
    8
    131
    40

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Cocina Elena

    Do they take credit cards?

    No. It's cash only.

    View All 2 Questions

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Filipino 1,846 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Inihaw Avenue Filipino Kitchen - Crispy Pork Sisig with fried egg on top

    Inihaw Avenue Filipino Kitchen

    4.0(245 reviews)
    12.1 mi
    $$

    Good food good vibe and good service. Flavors will absolutely remind you of home cooked Filipino…read morefood. Brought my Vietnamese friend and he liked it especially the shrimp sinigang. We also ordered the crispy pata and of course the customary lumpia Shanghai for appetizers. The only reason why it doesn't get a 5 star from me is because the size and portion of the crispy pata did not justify the cost in my opinion. Probably why I forgot to take a picture... Lol Overall it was a good meal and I would still recommend checking it out! They also have a sari sari store when you first walk in.

    It was our first time at Inihaw Avenue, and the food did not disappoint! We drove all the way from…read moreNorth Richland Hills to Irving, and it was definitely worth it. We used to live in Orange County, California, where we had access to a lot of great Filipino food--especially sisig--so we've been trying to find something that comes close here in Texas. This place really hit the spot! Their sisig was delicious, and the portion size was generous. We also ordered the half-and-half BBQ skewers, boneless milkfish, pancit bihon, crispy pata, fresh lumpia, and pork liempo--and everything was so good! The only thing we didn't really like was the vinegar on the side. I wish the flavor was a bit better, but honestly, everything else was superb. On top of that, the customer service was top-notch. They even have a mini store inside, which is a nice bonus. Just be patient, as they seem a bit understaffed--but once your food arrives, you'll see it's totally worth the wait. Definitely coming back!

    Photos
    Inihaw Avenue Filipino Kitchen - October 2022

    October 2022

    Inihaw Avenue Filipino Kitchen - Grilled stuffed jumbo squid

    Grilled stuffed jumbo squid

    Inihaw Avenue Filipino Kitchen - Bangus fish belly with garlic butter sauce topped with mushrooms and scallions

    See all

    Bangus fish belly with garlic butter sauce topped with mushrooms and scallions

    Kabayan Filipino Store & Cafe

    Kabayan Filipino Store & Cafe

    4.4(188 reviews)
    21.2 mi
    $$

    I made a comment on my friends page, that I had not found any great Filipino places to eat in DFW…read more Someone for this restaurant reached out to ask me to try this place. I love that there is a Filipino store attached because they do sell stuff that the asian market near us doesn't sell and it's very specific. The restaurant has a lot of potential, the food was authentic and tasty. They have a small stage for performances and karaoke. With proper marketing I can see this as the place to be on a Friday or Saturday night. Our meal was comp'd which was great, just like to disclose this. We didn't get much because it was pretty much my wife and I eating and my two kids wouldn't each much, so they could just share. We got lumpia, chicken adobo, pork adobo, dinaguan, and pinakbet. I don't usually eat dinaguan and pinakbet, but I had some and it was delicious. It's Turo-turo style which is cool but if I was someone who was unfamiliar with Filipino food, which is a large majority of people in DFW, I'd have labels on the food or even have some samples that people know, ur pancit, Sinigang, sisig. The food was really good as it stand the most authentic tasting food in DFW. Please give them a try.

    As I walked in, the market section was devoid of anyone. The large monitor showing feed from…read moremultiple security cameras can not be missed. Staff must not spent time in this section unless necessary. When I entered the restaurant section, an employee took up a table on the far side to work. Walking toward the ordering line, the large printed menu with covered prices caught me off guard. Without prices nor descriptions, the menu was useless. Eventually, I saw the actual menu behind the counter. Without descriptions nor photos, I had to make an educated guess. After confirming with the cook that lechon was pork, I ordered the Lechon Kawali. The dining area was spartan. The tables were a combination of picnic benches and four-tops. When I went to grab napkins, I noticed the utensils were plastic. On the plus side, they had knives which eventually came in handy. As I was the sole customer, my order came out very quickly. The kitchen employee started my order before she approached the register. The food was served in styrofoam containers, the fried pork in one container and the rice in another. The sauce was served in a small plastic container. The sign by the register puzzled me. Once customers submit gratuity, it can not be refunded. Why would diners require that warning? Not as interesting, signs by the trash cans request customers to bus their own tables. Fortunately, due to the styrofoam containers and plate, that was a synch.

    Photos
    Kabayan Filipino Store & Cafe
    Kabayan Filipino Store & Cafe
    Kabayan Filipino Store & Cafe

    See all

    Not Your Lola’s - Champorado, perfect dessert nodding to the tropics

    Not Your Lola’s

    3.0(2 reviews)
    15.3 miDowntown

    i went there and paid parking not knowing there were not there!!! I called the number and it's…read moredisconnected!!

    Dallas is finally getting some up-and-coming Filipino food from first-generation Filipino-Americans…read morewith a love for their cultural food. Not Your Lola's is one of these very pop-ups that you can catch around town introducing most people to their very first bites of Filipino cuisine. But these dishes aren't the exact translations of their parent's traditional recipes but rather their updated, inspired takes on signature flavors and dishes. Take for instance the arroz caldo, their answer to China's congee, but they ramp up this comforting rice and chicken porridge with a myriad of toppings bursting with flavor and texture. The ginger chicken base is studded with chicken and topped with spicy chili oil, funky kimchi, crunchy picked veggies, runny eggs, sweet pork floss and crispy chicken skin. This turns every bite into a different experience on your journey to the bottom of the bowl. This comes with combinations of hot, cold, spicy, sweet, salty, savory, creamy, crunchy, but all delicious. Take their version of champorado, a very chocolatey rice pudding frequently eaten for breakfast, but presented in dessert form, topped with bruleed baby bananas, toasted coconut and that signature drizzle of sweetened condensed milk. Sweet and moreish, this invites bite after bite until there is no more. They do more than rice, however. They've presented a beautifully braised coconut milk pork belly on a crispy sesame chip. It again balanced textures and taste sensations into one condensed, cohesive bite and appeared effortless. I am excited to see what they present next as they continue to innovate and serve food around town.

    Photos
    Not Your Lola’s - Arroz caldo with tons of toppings

    Arroz caldo with tons of toppings

    Not Your Lola’s - "Bicol Express Bites": coconut milk braised pork belly on a sesame crisp

    See all

    "Bicol Express Bites": coconut milk braised pork belly on a sesame crisp

    Hong Kong Market Place - Outside main entrance of HK

    Hong Kong Market Place

    3.8(123 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $

    I love this Asian market and have literally driven 40 minutes just to shop here. It's that good…read more The biggest reason is their meat service. I make beef jerky at home and need very thin, consistent slices of beef, and they're always happy to help when I ask. They do an excellent job and it makes a huge difference. The store is also well organized, with shelves consistently stocked and a wide variety of items. Produce is fresh, and another big plus is that checkout lines are usually not long, which makes the whole experience smooth and stress-free. Absolutely worth the drive and easily one of my go-to Asian markets.

    Came here looking to get some quality meat for at-home Korean Bbq. We went to the actual grocery…read morestore and there were so many items and options to choose from. Whether you're looking for live (or just fresh) seafood, fruits and veggies not typically found in the U.S. or a wide selection of snacks and premium meats, HK Market had it all! We did need some help locating specific KBBQ bulgogi sauce and the lady working the beef counter was nice enough to walk us over to the correct spot to locate the bulgogi sauce. Another worker was very helpful when we needed to locate the restroom. While in the restroom I thought it could definitely be updated/cleaned but overall it was a very pleasant experience. Can't wait to try out the meats for Christmas dinner!

    Photos
    Hong Kong Market Place - New restaurant coming

    New restaurant coming

    Hong Kong Market Place - Pumpkin

    Pumpkin

    Hong Kong Market Place

    See all

    Kabayan Filipino Store & Cafe - Pork BBQ Stick

    Kabayan Filipino Store & Cafe

    3.6(76 reviews)
    25.1 miNorth Dallas

    Amazing and authentic. The food is like your Lola's cooking. I can never find ensymada anywhere and…read morehere it is so good. Market had everything I was looking for!

    On my Filipino Food adventures whenever I visit, my Auntie actually recommended this place. Here…read morewas our experience. AMBIANCE Parking: Plaza parking. It was pretty big so we didn't have any issues. Seating: Inside seating. Good for pairs or groups. Room for maybe 50-60 people. Vibes: The area is nothing too flashy. It's a suburban area mixed with chain businesses and local gems. The spot itself is an experience. We were lucky as we were welcomed with some afternoon karaoke. It's a spacious space with a compacted grocery on side, dining and karaoke stage, and then passing the food line is an extension to the coffee shop next door. Great place to relax, find your singing community, and enjoying some comforting Filipino food. FOOD / DRINKS Bilao (means wooden platter) (Recommend) You're welcomed with a medley of Filipino good eats - bbq skewers/pork belly, fried tilapia, lumpia, shrimp, egg roll, and rice. This is a traditional delight so if you're looking for the Filipino experience and comforting flavors, this is your best bet. You have flavorful savory meats, vegetal okra, garlic shrimp, and some crispy/cackling fish and lumpia. You definitely need a group of people (5-8) to finish this. Sago't Gulaman (means tapioca pearls and jelly) (Recommend) For a nice refreshing drink, this felt like sweet tea. A good balance of tapioca pearls and jelly that didn't overwhelm the drink. CUSTOMER SERVICE Celine was awesome! Friendly and super helpful as we navigated the menu. TL;DR OVERALL 5 Stars. Good food, reasonable prices and an all in all pleasant experience. Visiting from California and coming from a family of good cooks, I'm quite critical on Filipino food but this hits. I enjoyed the dishes, products, and enjoyed the community vibes they built. For those looking for Filipino comfort flavors or if you're trying it for the first time, definitely check them out! Best wishes to Jojo, Chona, and the rest of the Kabayan pamilya! #RepresentAZN #FilipinoFoodMovement TIPS * Kabayan means fellow countrymen in Tagalog * This store differs from the other Kabayan store * Check their website/social media for events!

    Photos
    Kabayan Filipino Store & Cafe
    Kabayan Filipino Store & Cafe - Beef kare kare, Chicken Adobo

    Beef kare kare, Chicken Adobo

    Kabayan Filipino Store & Cafe - Best Halo Halo (16oz)

    See all

    Best Halo Halo (16oz)

    Cocina Elena - filipino - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...